Grayslake: More than Mated: Secrets to Bear (Kindle Worlds Novella) (8 page)

Lira moaned and reached out to Jake as cops and paramedics came into the house. An EMT started to push him out of the way when Memaw said, "They're mates."

The medic nodded and pushed Jake towards her feet. "You can touch her legs while we stabilize her, okay?"

He nodded and knelt at her feet. She was hurt. There was so much blood. Her face was so very pale. He started shaking at how close he'd come to losing her. How close she was to the edge of life. Humans were so fragile.

He felt his Gran come up behind him, her hand resting on his head. She was giving him strength. He pressed his face against her leg, like he was a little boy again, seeking comfort.

"Jake, it really isn't as bad as it looks."

"But she's lost so much blood. It's everywhere."

"He shot her while she was shifted."

He froze. "Shifted? She shifted?" His brain felt sluggish and slow.

"Yes. After he shot her the first time, she went full bear. Big and angry."

"Did she kill him?" He hoped she had, it would solve a lot of problems. But killing someone with your bare hands...it would crush her.

"Memaw got her to calm down. He's hurt pretty bad. She got a swipe in, but he got really lucky, her aim was bad."

"She isn't a very big bear?"

"Oh bless your heart, honey. She's Kodiak. Her momma was a Kodiak from Alaska. She's massive."

Jake almost wept in relief. Lira was going to be okay and she was going to be his big beautiful bear.

Sunlight beat against her eyelids and Lira slowly opened her eyes. She looked around the room confused. White walls, equipment everywhere and random beeping instruments.

She struggled to sit up and gasped at the sharp pain in her shoulder. At the sound, a tall figure unwound from the chair in the corner.

It was Jake.

His hair stood out at every angle and his eyes had deep dark circles under them. He struggled to his feet and pulled the chair over to the side of her bed, taking her hand in his. He lifted her hand and pressed it to his cheek and took a deep, shuddering sigh.

She could see tears bristle at the corner of his eyes. She cleared her throat. "How long have I been here?"

Jake closed his eyes and squeezed her hand. "Just overnight. They gave you something to take away the pain, conk you out, and keep you from shifting and murdering the whole town while they made sure you were going to be okay."

"It feels like I've been kicked by a horse, like, everywhere. My shoulder..." She started remembering and her hand shook. "Mama? Is she okay?"

"You took the bullet meant for her. Several of them."

"How am I okay?"

"You only took one bullet as a human. Bear hide is way thicker."

Lira rubbed her chest. "Did I hurt Ethan?"

"Knocked him out."

"So he knows about the bear thing?" Lira wondered how what happened to people who shouldn't know about shifters.

"Mmmm, not really. He's under guard. He'll be in prison a very long time. He tried to murder you and with everyone's testimony, no one is going to believe him about bears."

Lira slumped back onto the bed, her pain level ratcheting up.

A nurse came bustling in, "Okay hon, you are due for some pain meds. Luckily, you'll heal up real fast, so you'll be right as rain in a few days." She gave Lira a pill and a glass of water, then turned to Jake. "You need to let her rest. No hanky-panky. No strenuous activity. Understand?"

Jake looked shocked. "Of course I'll let her rest." The nurse just raised one eyebrow at him. "Really."

She sighed and left the room, muttering about shifters and mates.

Jake moved back to Lira and gathered her hand in his. "I really will let you rest. I mean, I adore you in every way, but walking in and seeing all that blood? It kind of scared the life out of me."

She smiled faintly at him and said, "It was not a great experience on this end either."

He dropped a kiss on her palm. "Let's agree that we're going to be super boring going forward. I'll come over for dinner and charm the various ladies. We'll sit on the porch and swing."

"Not too boring, I hope."

"Well, I might try and steal kisses while they aren't looking."

"Just kisses?"

Jake pressed his face against her hand, his voice low and serious. "Lira, I kept pushing you, until you ran. I should have been there when he showed up. Ethan never would have had the chance to hurt you or anyone else if I'd really listened to you. All I could think about was myself and what I wanted. Please give me another chance? I will be strictly by the book."

Lira squeezed his hand, trying to find the words around the increased fogginess of the drugs. She said, "Wasn't you I was scared of, was how strong I felt about you. You could hurt me. Scared the piss out of me."

"I'll keep you safe from everything." She could barely make out his words as drugged sleep swept her away.

~ * ~ * ~

Lira woke up a few hours later with a mouth as dry as the Sahara. She was fumbling for a nearby cup of water when the doctor strode in. He was loud and cheerful and Lira kind of hated him. And he wasn't Jake.

She took a sip of water while she glared at him, not understanding his words, until they finally sunk in. "Oh, I get to go home? Now?"

He sighed and shook his head. "Shifters will be the death of me. You should take it fairly easy the next few days, not that you will. But at least another 24 hours until uhm,
strenuous
activity, understand me?"

Lira flushed hot and she thought her ears might actually just burst into flames. She just nodded at him and sipped at her water.

"Your mother should be here shortly." Lira assumed the doctor spoke of Magda.

"Oh, okay." But not Jake? She didn't even know how to ask. She just looked over her discharge paperwork. "Do you really want me to take painkillers this long?" Lira had never had any kind of surgery before and had no idea what to expect.

"Oh, no, that's just if we get audited. Then the outside world just sees an appropriate standard of care. You should take one tonight, to help you sleep, maybe tomorrow night if you don't listen to me about strenuous activity. If you need more after that? You get your ass into my office."

At that moment, Magda walked in and the doctor smiled at her. "Nice to see you again. She is free to go. Although if she is in any real pain after tomorrow night? Call me, immediately." He handed Magda a business card. "And if she's not? Call me for dinner."

Lira grinned as Magda fumbled with the handsome doctor's card. She'd never seen Magda's head turned by any man, but maybe this doctor could get near Magda's standards. At the very least, it might distract Memaw and Gran from Lira and Jake.

Lira was more than ready for some shenanigans. Even if she had to wait until tomorrow.

Magda handed Lira a bag with a change of clothes and said, "I figured you'd want comfort over style, especially since Jake won't be over until dinner. Dr. Full of Himself recommended yoga pants and a button down shirt, so you didn't have to maneuver around your bandages."

Lira eased off of the bed, grateful that her pain was very minimal. Still, her shoulder was pretty stiff so it was nice to not have to fuss. "Oh, you think he's full of himself? You don't think he's a little bit handsome?"

Magda huffed and took the bag back. "He's very handsome. And he knows it."

"Is that so bad?" Lira had never been able to tease Magda about a man before. He might have annoyed Magda, but Magda looked vibrant and happier.

"No, I suppose not. At least he's not trapped in false modesty. That's profoundly boring."

"And if nothing else, you hate being bored by a man. Right, Mama?" Lira paused, unsteady, unsure of what Magda would say. Her mother would always be Mom, but all these years of dancing around what to call her other parent just seemed silly now.

Magda's voice was low and trembly, "You don't have to call me that."

Lira caught Magda's hand in hers, "You know what's great? My love for you and what you are in my life doesn't diminish my other mother's love. You both raised me together as long as you could, and when she died, you were my parent. Not lesser, not more. How many kids get to have so much love in their lives that they run out of words to label it?"

A tear slipped down Magda's cheek. "Deirdre and I, we knew we weren't a traditional family. Everyone assumed we were lesbians, but we didn't even fit in that mold. It would have been easier in a way, if we were, people would have understood what to call us, what our family was." She held on tight to Lira's hand. "I've always considered you my daughter, even if it wasn't of my flesh."

"I love you, Mama. I like saying it." They sat quietly together, letting the moment happen around them. Lira then said, "How is Memaw taking everything?"

"We, no, let me be honest. I let anger keep us apart for a very long time. I was too hurt and angry. As you grew up, I understood better her fears and how they drove her. We're getting along now. Getting to know each other as adults. It's good. She's good." Magda pushed Lira out the door. "Besides, I did give her updates, after Deirdre died. Did you know your mom, she had been sending updates all along? Made me swear to keep doing it, when she was dying."

"So mom guilted you with a literal deathbed wish?"

"She knew what it was like, growing up without any kind of connection to her people. She wanted you to have that connection. She forgave my mother long before I did. Memaw had no idea and no intention of hurting us, she really thought she was doing the right thing. The car crash was tragic accident that I wanted to blame on someone."

"Oh, did we ever figure out how Ethan found us?" It had made no sense to Lira, he shouldn't have been able to figure it out how to find them.

"Before he came into the house at me, he put a tracer on my car. Turns out he might have been crazier than a shithouse rat, but he was that smart. He just waited until he got the right opportunity." Magda hugged her daughter tight. "Now let's get you home so Memaw can fuss over you endlessly."

It had been a week since Ethan shot her. Lira flexed her shoulder. Except for a little stiffness in the morning, she was completely healed. She'd gotten pretty lucky that the bullet didn't hit anything important. That and the whole magical shifter healing mojo. Still, even Memaw was done fussing over her.

But Jake wouldn't stop treating her like she was made of spun glass. If she was any kind of glass, she was borosilicate Pyrex. It took a hell of a lot to break. He came for dinner every single night. But never sat next to her and hadn't tried to steal a single kiss.

Maybe he'd realized she was more trouble than she was worth. She wanted to scream in frustration.

Maybe she should just go on a road trip. Mama was figuring out her move to Grayslake. Turns out Ethan was right about one thing, there was some money floating around. Nothing like his crazed mind had seized on, but enough so that Lira could drive and drive and drive until she forgot her fair-weather mate.

She stared at herself in the mirror, frowning at her curves. Maybe if she'd been built like Angela, she could have kept his interest longer. No, Jake had worshiped her body. It was easy to beat yourself up, to turn everything inward.

After dinner, she would drag him out for a walk, and he would either spit out his problem or she'd say goodbye. He was her mate, dammit, and it meant something. She wasn't going to let him get away from her that easy. And, if he wasn't her mate, then, like Magda, she wasn't going to settle for anything less.

She'd pack her bags and he'd either move her to the Clan house or she'd drive off into the metaphorical sunset to find some other shifter town full of potential mates. Who was she kidding? Her body practically screamed for Jake.

~ * ~ * ~

Jake paced the porch. He was crawling out of his skin having to keep his distance from Lira. He knew it was going to be difficult, but not throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her away took every bit of his willpower.

But she was still recovering and had promised that he would give her the space she needed. He wanted her to choose him because she had to. Because she felt the mate bond. Not because it was what she had to do to stay in Grayslake with her family.

He hadn't even so much as kissed her since she came home from the hospital. He knew if he kissed her, he wasn't going to be able to stop at that. Then Memaw would never let him come back.

The door snatched open and Nancy stood there with her hands on her hips. "Stupid bear. Really, you both of are. Get into the dining room."

Jake followed her meekly.

Even Gran was glaring at him, as he walked into the room. Lira wasn't there yet.

He settled next to his grandmother who just huffed at him and said, "What is the wrong with you, boy? Did your mother drop you when you were a cub and not tell me?"

He just stared at her, baffled. What had he done? Everyone ignored him as Lira walked in the room. His eyes went soft as he stared at her. She was so beautiful.

She wore some sort of flowy strapless dress that followed the curve of her breasts. He swallowed hard because all he could imagine was tugging it down and watching it slip off her lush body. He drug his eyes upward, catching the exposed scar on her shoulder and scowled. She would always be marked by her attack. Ethan had hurt her, tried to kill the other women. And he hadn't been there. How could he forgive himself when her injury stared at him?

Jake just wished he'd killed Ethan when he had the chance, so she would know she was safe. Instead of a drawn out court case.

Dinner was a whirlwind until they were finishing dessert and Gran said, "Lira, you said you wanted to go for a walk after dinner? Jake, you will escort her." It wasn't a question.

"I really should be going. I don’t want to keep anyone up late." Lira flinched at his words. "But of course we can walk a bit of dinner off first."

He stood and offered a hand to his gran, but she waved him off. "You children go ahead, we'll catch up."

Alone with Lira? Out of sight of the house? Jake swallowed hard and pressed his lips together. He could do this. This would help prove to Lira he'd meant it when he said he'd go slow. He offered his hand to Lira and avoided her eyes.

He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and led her down the path at the back of the house. They walked slowly, in silence for a few minutes until they were out of sight of the house. His bear was restless and cranky and wanted to feel his mate melt in his arms.

Lira finally broke the silence. "Dammit, why won't you even look at me?"

He froze, this what not what he expected.

She pulled her hand away from him. "Are you regretting me? Don't freeze me out, just tell me if you are done with me."

His eyes were wide as saucers and he stammered, "I just don't want to hurt you. Your shoulder. And you said you needed slow."

Lira said, "Slow? That didn't mean glacial."

"And regretting you? The only thing I regret is that I wasn't there when that asshole showed up. He never should have been able to get near any of you. I should have tracked him down. I failed you, and he hurt you."

She pointed to her shoulder and said, "You mean this? Yeah, that sucked. But it turns out I'm a motherfucking bear, and, if you didn't know, bears do not like being shot." She grabbed his hand and pressed it against the raised and lumpy skin. "The scar will get smaller and smaller, until it basically disappears unless you know what to look for."

Lira's skin was so warm against Jake's hand and he pulled her closer, letting her scent wrap around him. His mouth ran dry as her face tilted up towards him. He stroked down her face with one finger, then stepped away.

"Please Lira, this is already so hard on me." How could she not know how close to the edge he was, that if he took her in his arms, he was never going to be able to let her go, no matter how much it embarrassed his Gran?

She growled at him and said, "Keep up with me now, or leave and never come back."

She turned and ran from him, down the path. The beast inside of him almost deafened him with the need to chase, to follow and to catch. Oh to catch her, and take her, over and over again. His legs were moving, and as he almost caught up with her, Jake heard her laugh and she transformed.

Shifted.

To her magnificent bear form. She was a match to him, a splendidly large Kodiak bear, who was speeding away from him, shreds of fabric falling around her. He gave his bear free rein, shifted and followed her into the woods.

After the burst of speed, they settled into a mile-crunching lope through the woods. Bears weren't built for speed, but could cover ground if they put their minds too it. Jake thought she was leading him somewhere. If nothing else, the run would tire him out enough that he might be able to keep his hands off her.

They burst into a meadow with a huge, flat rock in the center. Lira bounded up it, leaping to the top and shifting back to human. The moon bathed her in silvery light and her hair curled around her. He leapt up next to her and shifted.

She was in his arms before he could react. Hers lips against his and he couldn't resist and melted into her. This time Lira pushed him away.

They faced each other and she said, "I need you. I want you. No games. No more waiting. You're right, I could have died. And I would have died not saying yes to you, over and over again." She turned away from Jake and started pacing. "If you don't want me anymore, or you just want some fun, tell me. My bags are packed, I'm ready to go."

Ice cold fear shot through Jake's body. "You can't go."

"I can and I will. I'm not spending another night at the B&B. If it's not us, I'm hitting the road."

"I don't understand, what you do mean? Talk to me like I'm a big stupid bear. Because right now? I'm a big stupid bear trying not to freak out."

"I spent the afternoon packing up all my crap and putting it in the car. Because if you won't have me, I'm not staying in Grayslake to be hurt."

"If I won't have you?" Time stood still for Jake. He thought he knew what she meant, but his big dumb bear self was freaking out pretty hard.

"I was so scared before. I don't mean about Ethan. I realized that day that I was keeping you at arm’s length because while Ethan’s cheating hurt, you had the power to destroy me. And that's why I had everyone riding interference. I figured out a lot of things that day, but one of them was that I was at least going to let you know. And let you choose."

"Are you telling me you want to be with me?"

She sighed. "Yes, you goofy bear, I want to be with you, even if it means I get hurt. Life is short, and things can happen we have very little control over. I'd rather be happy with you for as long as we have. But I'll also make it easy for you. If you want freedom, just go, I'll be leaving tonight."

Jake started growling and reached for Lira, but she danced out of the way. "Are you out of your mind? Do you...I just...I'm going to..." He stood with his hands on his hips. "Get that sweet ass over here right now, or I'm going to put you over my knee and spank you until you can't sit for a week."

Lira was so tense, she could barely speak and her voice cracked, "Threat or promise?"

"Both, if I can't hold you now."

Lira let him pull her into his arms. The night air had chilled her skin, and his warmth as he wrapped his arms around her made her sigh.

He said, "You are my mate. You might be able to shift, but there is a lot you have to learn about being a shifter. Being my mate is forever. That's why I could wait. Will wait. If that's what you need. Because you will always be my heart. When I wake up, you the first thing I will think of. And when I fall asleep, you are the vision that will take me to slumber. If you run? I'll chase you forever."

He lowered his mouth to hers, showering her with lightning fast kisses. She started laughing and he frowned at her.

Lira said, "I'm sorry, but, I was so prepared to watch you run away as fast as you could, and I would have to go back to the house and say goodbye to everyone and get in my car and leave."

Jake’s hands tightened around her and he said, "What on earth would make you think I didn't want you?"

"You never tried to even kiss me!" And she really wanted him to kiss her and never stop.

"You idiot! I knew if I started kissing you I wasn't going to stop and I promised you we'd only go as fast as you wanted."

"I couldn't go faster before, but I'm ready for you, now."

"Did you really pack your car with everything?" She nodded against his chest as they sank onto the rock. "I would be privileged and honored if you would come with me to the clan house, as my bride." Lira could feel Jake tense as he waited for her answer.

She took a deep breath and said, "Anyway you want, that's how I'll come to you."

"That's a promise I'll hold you to, when I'm dragging you to City Hall tomorrow." A little squeak escaped Lira's lips and Jake stroked her face softly. "Too soon?"

"It was a knee jerk reaction. I said any way you want, I'll come."

He nipped her ear and said, "Well, I guess I'd better get to work."

~ * ~ * ~ The End~ * ~ * ~

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Secrets to Bear.
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